Category Archives: TRAVEL

Now, I love Atlantic City for all the wonderful Jersey-ness as I mentioned in an earlier post. (The boardwalk sights did not disappoint this time around–and the sleepy slot-playing eldery woman made my day! Honestly, it is train-wreck central down there…) BUT…Atlantic City is hardly the East Coast Las Vegas. Nothing compares to the shopping, eating, entertainment and perfect weather of Vegas–I will take a dry 120-degree heat over the Northeast humidity (or hurricane) any day… Even though we know that Vegas has a glamorous element that AC just doesn’t–Atlantic City has the beach, pollution and obesity aside, the view of waves crashing into the sandy shore is pretty fantastic. What’s NOT so fantastic is seeing the name TRUMP on multiple buildings on a small ocean-front stretch…UGH. I go out of my way to avoid anything Trump.

The Beach: If you’re driving to the beach you can load chairs, towels and other beach essentials in your car… Renting chairs if you’re not staying at one of the beach-front hotels can be costly ($8 for umbrellas and chairs , $15 for a comfy chaise lounge chair.) Caesars is the most centrally located for shopping but the Tropicana has Cabanas (reserve them SUPER early in the morning, as it is first come-first serve.) My ONE suggestion is that the Borgata have a presence on the beach! I’m sure the beach-front hotels have this coveted real estate on lockdown but it would be nice to have a sandy Borgata outpost with drinks, food, cabanas and chairs for guests…or at least a free jitney from the hotel to the beach, since they don’t have an outdoor pool!

The Shopping: This is kind of a big SNORE. The Tanger Outlets have all the typical outlet stores, J.Crew, Coach, etc… And they are a serious waste of time. J.Crew doesn’t have any real deals so you might as well shop the sale section at the full-price stores. Coach is overflowing with their hideous c-logo collection and that’s pretty much it. The other stores I popped into, BCBG, St. John…were overstocked with last season’s styles. I’m not sure why these stores aren’t having blow-out sales to move merchandise but…let them sit on it. The Pier Shops at Caesars were a disappointment, too–I guess coming from NYC it was just more of the same, True Religion, Scoop, Juicy Couture (yuck), Levi’s…they also have some luxury brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Burberry and Salvatore Ferragamo that are probably not making enough in revenue to pay their electric bills…it was a ghost-town on that portion of the pier.

MUST HAVE: Saltwater Taffy! This treat will find every cavity and yank out recent fillings but it is delicious. Until about piece number twelve–then you’ll be sick. You can find it anywhere along the boardwalk.

The Hotels: Unless you’re a super high-roller and you can get suites all around town, there are really only two places in Atlantic City to book a room: Borgata or The Water Club at Borgata. Borgata has comfortable high-end rooms and good food options (Bobby Flay Steak, SeaBlue, Wolfgang Puck American Grille, Izakaya and Fornelletto) and night clubs (MIXX and mur.mur–yes there is a period between the murs. Am I supposed to read it as mur-pause-mur?) The Water Club has better rooms with 400-thread count egyptian cotton sheets, flat TVs, and an outdoor pool. Apparently, an outdoor pool is hard to come-by in AC–I know the Northeast only sees three months of warm weather AND the beach is a few miles away–but I love lounging by the pool, cold drinks, lunch menu–and no sand in my sandwich.

The Food: As I mentioned earlier, AC is not a foodie town like Vegas–but there are a few tasty choices. Borgata has a great fine dining selection from celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay or Wolfgang Puck OR if you want to significantly shorten your lifespan try their all-you-can-eat Borgata Buffet (yikes…but a good yikes.)

The Tropicana has the family-style Italian, Carmine’s or PF Changs (I know this is a cheesy chain but I kind of like it…maybe it’s the salt content or the neatly organized dipping sauces.) They also have Red Square. Just in case the name didn’t tip you off, it’s a Russian themed Vodka and Caviar bar.

There is also Buddakan at The Pier shops at Caesars and a surprisingly nice brunch at Trump Plaza’s Evo on the boardwalk. The staff at Evo was friendly and sweet and I would return just for the service…my only complaint is…I wish the restaurant was elevated a bit more to avoid the boardwalk bustle and take in the ocean view. Maybe have the outdoor seating up on a platform?

The Nightlife: Word on the street is that the Borgata clubs are the classiest (I mean where else do you pause for a period in the middle of the name…ooooh hot!)…but, ask yourself this, did you really go to Atlantic City, NJ for class? I’m guessing you’re still thinking about your answer so why not try to avoid getting herpes from a toilet seat at the Tropicana and party down with the Ultimate Bachelorette Package (Yes, I’m serious.)

I am heading out to Atlantic City for a day or two. Free rooms at the Borgata and endless entertainment/social anthropology on the boardwalk. I know it is super cheese but I LOVE it. I can’t seem to pick my jaw up off the weathered wood walkway when I get there. I mean…if you’ve ever been to Atlantic City you know exactly what I’m talking about. You can spend a good chunk of an afternoon in disbelief. It certainly isn’t as exciting as the era that HBO’s Boardwalk Empire depicts but what this city lacks in class it makes up for in crazy–sign me up!

I am desperate for an extended vacation in Italy. Every August, imagining myself among the swathes of tanned beauties sun bathing on the Adriatic sea or Amalfi Coast makes me dizzy with pleasure. This is yet another on a long list of travel related fantasies that my unemployment stipend can’t cover right now. But I can still watch Italian movies and load up on my favorite products…it’s almost like being there.

Some of my Italian favorites include La Bello Lip balm (now that this is available online I don’t have to bribe friends traveling abroad to stock up for me), San Pellegrino Limonata, and a few must haves from Santa Maria Novella in Florence (also available State side at Lafco in Nolita): Iris Flower Soap (for combination skin), Armenia Papers (scent of Frankincense and Myrrh) and Ceramic Soap dishes (which can also be used for the burning papers.) The map is wrapping paper from Cavallini & Co.

My boyfriend did some watercolor painting on our recent vacation and he’s posted a few to his blog. I love his work and him, too, of course. The lone palm tree is my favorite one. I can’t wait until our next trip so he can be inspired to paint.

Like this:

I’m annoyed and sick of the rain and cold and Northeast. I just threw on a white collared shirt that I took with me on my vacation last month and it still smells like the beach. Don’t get grossed out–I’ve laundered it since my return but somehow the light scent of suntan lotion and saltwater has lingered in the fabric. I pulled it around me and as I buttoned it up a smile spread across my face. I miss the beach. and I reserve the right to be BITCHY until I can be BEACHY again.

Share this:

Like this:

This is totally my 1970s album cover. I’m still too sad that vacation is over to write with a clear head about it. The current weather (cold, dreary, typical Northeast April) is particularly depressing and stifling any creative disposition I may have had.

Like this:

Ask me what I miss about New York right now? Nothing. Ok, well, maybe a coffee maker that can brew more than one cup of coffee at a time…but other than that I’m at a loss. The guys are out sport fishing today so I have the condo to myself with the beach a few steps away. Just thought I’d share the view from my room…(forgive the photo quality–I’m shooting with the Mac Photobooth.)
Side note: The salt water/sand/chlorine combo and excessive sun are doing a number on my skin… I must share my new skin saving secret: Egyptian Magic!
It slathers on and looks a little glossy but at least it will prevents me from looking like Magda